Entitled 'Injury prevention in teenage athletes', the workshop was targeted towards swimmers who train for eight to ten hours weekly, and offered tips around swimming technique, nutrition, sleep, menstrual cycle tracking, strength work and stretching to reduce injuries.
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Sports therapist Holly Whiter and Optimise Foundation founder Leza Milligan, both former swimmers, described the importance of proper technique, strength training and stretching to reduce the risk of overuse injuries caused by repetitive stress – particularly to the shoulders, knees, hips and back.
They demonstrated strength exercises and stretches and asked the swimmers to perform the exercises.
The swimmers engaged enthusiastically in the session, asking a wide range of questions.
The presentation was one of a series delivered by Optimise Foundation to Farnham Swimming Club as part of their ongoing partnership with the club.
Established in June 2024, Optimise Foundation are a team of local health professionals, coaches, teachers, parents and athletes.
Optimise provide information across grassroots sports to empower girls and women to understand, track and train in line with their unique female physiology and hormone fluctuations.
“This is new and vital information that we want to translate into action in local clubs, to help them better support their female members, keep girls playing sport beyond puberty and reduce injury,” said Milligan.
“Girls are four to six times more likely than boys to get anterior cruciate ligament injuries – this could be reduced through education, tailored warm-ups and strengthening.”
Optimise received a Farnham Sports Council award in February for their outstanding contribution to grassroots sport and are fundraising to build a freely-accessible online learning resources portal to share research, tips and resources with sports clubs, schools and community groups.